The Brown Bear has captured the human consciousness like nearly no
other animal can. It presents an image so like ourselves that we often
get caught up in the "cuteness" and forget that it is a wild
animal that we are dealing with. The brown bear is often seen as the
cuddly buffoon of animation, and the "Teddy" bear of children and collectors
alike. In reality, the brown
bear is a complex and fascinating animal deserving of great respect.

The brown bear distinguishes itself from the other ursines by virtue of
its shoulder hump, which is caused by muscles which are used for digging.
The color of the animal varies from a light creamy color through to black.
It has a dished facial profile and very long claws on the front paws.
In addition, has a wider distribution than any of the other bears, and
can be found throuhout the world. The animal has been found in such
diverse places as Europe, Japan, North
Asia, the western Canadian provinces, and the states of Washington, Idaho,
Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. This diversity does not limit itself to
purely geographical happenings, as the bear is also found in a great
number of different habitats as well. Brown bears can be found on the
plains, in the forests, the tundra, and in subalpine mountain areas. At one
time, the brown bear could be found throughout the North American continent.
However, excessive hunting and destruction of the animal's habitat have all
but wiped out this majestic creature.

This animal's weight varies widely throughout the course of the year.
Some can even double their weigh between emerging from their dens in
the Spring and returning in the Fall. The males can weigh anywhere from
300 to 860 pounds, with the females coming in somewhere between 205 and
455 pounds. The average size of these bears is difficult to pinpoint,
because it seems to depend greatly on the food sources available. The
island grizzlies of Alaska (Kodiak and Admiralty) are considered the
largest land carnivores in
the world, and live on a diet of fish and other rich food. The inland
animals are smaller by some 30%.

Of the browns, people tend to be more familiar with the grizzly bear. This animal
is well known for it's agressive nature, and it is for this reason that
many folks believe it gets its name. Not so! The name "grizzly" comes
from the "grizzling" of its fur, which gives it a lighter color at the
tips of hairs.

Brown bears reach sexual maturity somewhere between their 4 1/2 to 7th years.
Females and males mature at approximately the same time, but males often
do not become successful breeders until they are 8-10 years old due to
competition with older, stronger males. Mating between browns takes place
from early May to mid-July Implantation of the egg in the uterus, however,
does not occur until sometime in Oct.-Nov. 1-4 cubs are born during
winter hibernation of the female, with 2 being most common, sometime
between January and March. The cubs will stay with the sow up to 2 1/2
years, meaning that the female may only breed about once every 3 years
or so. Given that bears generally live only until they are 20-25 years of
age, this does not give very many opportunities to reproduce.

Like most other bears, the brown bears are longers; with the notable
exception of females with cubs. During the mating season, males and
females may pair up and mate frequently for up to two weeks. The females
require the stimulation of frequent mating before they will ovulate.
While fertile, she may mate with several males, leading to cubs in a litter
which may not all have the same father. This is one of the factors that
makes research into bears more difficult, since paternity is often hard
to determine.

The home ranges of bears often overlap. The ranges of males will often
intersect those of several females. Bears will not generally attack other
bears which wander in to their territories. They will even congregate
peacefully in places where food is plentiful such as garbage dumps and
salmon streams. In such places, the big, dominant males will usually get
the choice fishing areas.

Brown bears are technically carnivores, but in practice most of their diet
consists of plant matter such as sedges, grasses, bulbs, seeds, berries,
and roots. They will also eat insects, fish, and small mammals. Some of
these bears have even developed predatory practices on large animals,
including moose, caribou, and elk.